Beneath the mistletoe

chapter 8

Shortly after Luca and Emily arrived, Xander and Charlotte arrived too.

The house bustled with the warmth and noise of Christmas Day, but Luca couldn’t help but feel a little out of place. He's friend, Xander was thoroughly engrossed in introducing Charlotte to the family, their laughter ringing through the living room that he forgot he was Luca's buffer.

Charlotte was radiant, her personality instantly winning over everyone in the room. She fit in so seamlessly, and Luca, despite his easy going nature, suddenly felt like the odd one out. He always picked up on the conversations Xander started that's how he communicated with the rest of the family.

He stood near the doorway for a moment, unsure of where to place himself or what to say . It wasn’t his family, after all, and he didn’t want to intrude on their moments of connection. That’s when he noticed Emily moving around in the kitchen. She was busy slicing vegetables, her sleeves rolled up and her focus entirely on the task at hand.

With a deep breath and a nudge from his own longing for companionship, Luca made his way into the kitchen.

“Need a sous-chef?” he asked, leaning casually against the counter.

Emily looked up, startled at first, but her expression softened into a small smile. “I guess I could use a hand.”

He stepped beside her, rolling up his sleeves. “What’s the plan? Am I chopping, stirring, or just standing here for moral support?”

Emily let out a quiet laugh. “You can chop,” she said, handing him a cutting board and a knife. “But if you mess up my vegetables, you’re out.”

“Got it captain,” he said with mock seriousness. “I’ll try not to ruin your masterpiece.”

The two worked side by side in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the rhythmic sound of chopping filling the room. It wasn’t long before Luca broke the quiet.

“You seem at ease here,” he said, glancing at her. “In the kitchen, I mean.”

Emily shrugged, focusing on her task. “I guess it’s something I’ve always enjoyed. Cooking reminds me of my mom and Mama Ruby. They always made holidays feel special, no matter what else was going on.”

Luca nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “That’s nice. My mom was the opposite she hated cooking. She used to burn toast, and we’d laugh about it every time.”

Emily smirked. “Let me guess, you grew up eating takeout?”

“Pretty much,” Luca admitted, chuckling. “There was this little Italian place down the street from us, and the owner, Mr. Russo, basically knew our order by heart. Spaghetti for me, lasagna for my mom.”

Emily smiled, picturing the scene. “That sounds kind of nice, though. Like a tradition in its own way.”

“Yeah, I guess it was,” he said, his tone tinged with nostalgia. “What about you? Any childhood traditions you miss?”

Emily hesitated, her knife pausing mid-slice. “Well, every Christmas morning, Xander and I used to wake up early, way before our parents and we would sneak downstairs to see the presents. We’d try to guess what was inside without opening them.”

Luca grinned. “Sounds like classic twin mischief.”

“It was,” she said, her voice warming with the memory. “One year, though, we got caught. My dad pretended to be mad, but he ended up laughing because Xander tried to convince him that he was just ‘guarding’ the gifts.”

Luca laughed, the sound deep and genuine. “That’s great. I can totally see Xander pulling something like that.”

Emily’s smile lingered as she placed the chopped vegetables into a pot. For a moment, the weight of the past seemed to lift, replaced by the simple joy of reminiscing.

“What about Christmas dinners?” Luca asked. “Did your family do anything special?”

Emily’s expression softened. “Mama Ruby always made this amazing sweet potato pie. It was everyone’s favorite, especially Xander’s. He used to sneak slices when no one was looking.”

“And you?” Luca asked, leaning against the counter. “Did you have a favorite dish?”

Emily’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Honestly? I always looked forward to the cranberry sauce. I know it’s not the main attraction, but there’s something about the tartness and the sweetness together. It’s… comforting.”

Luca tilted his head, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “You’re telling me cranberry sauce beat out sweet potato pie?”

“Don’t judge me,” she said, laughing.

“Never,” he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “To each their own.”

Their laughter filled the kitchen, the sound blending seamlessly with the faint chatter from the living room. As they continued to cook, the conversation drifted naturally, moving from lighthearted childhood anecdotes to deeper reflections.

“I used to think Christmas was the best time of the year,” Emily said after a pause, her voice quieter now. “But after Julian… it just felt hollow. Like all those memories didn’t belong to me anymore.”

Luca stopped what he was doing, his gaze steady on her. “I get that,” he said gently. “Sometimes the things that used to make us happy can feel… tainted, I guess, after going through something hard.”

Emily nodded, her throat tightening. “I’m trying to reclaim it, though. For myself, for my family. It’s just… harder than I thought.”

“That’s okay,” Luca said. “It’s a process. But you’re doing it, Emily. You’re here, you’re painting again, you’re making memories. That takes strength.”

She looked at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Luca smiled, his expression warm and reassuring. “You’re welcome. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re doing an amazing job.”

The moment hung between them, a quiet understanding passing in the space where words weren’t needed. Luca broke the gaze saying, "you lied to me today."

"when did I?" Em asked confused, "I know you fell, I saw you through the windows." he said laughing.

Just then, Karen poked her head into the kitchen, before Emily could deny it. “Everything okay in here? Smells amazing.”

Emily quickly wiped her hands on a towel, forcing a smile. “Yeah, we’re just about done.”

Karen’s eyes flicked between Emily and Luca, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Well, don’t keep us waiting too long. Everyone’s getting hungry.”

As Karen disappeared back into the living room, Emily and Luca exchanged a glance, a shared smile lingering between them then broke into laughter.

“Guess we should finish up, be careful don't fall” Luca said mockingly, picking up the cutting board again.

“Yeah,” Emily agreed, but her heart felt lighter and embarrassed that he saw her fall.